7 days ago
Walkersville resident trooper commander expresses commitment to program
The head of the contingent of Maryland State Police resident troopers that patrol Walkersville affirmed the agency's commitment to the program, as the town prepares to look at possible alternatives.
The five resident troopers who the town pays for have a proud history of being involved in the Walkersville community, Cpl. Gary Conklin told the town's burgess and commissioners Wednesday.
In the first five months of the year, two of the Walkersville resident troopers have been named Trooper of the Month for the Frederick barrack, Conklin said, and his superiors have expressed their support for the program and its continuation.
Conklin said he has been a resident trooper since 2013 and the unit's supervisor since 2017, and has turned down several promotions or transfers to other units to stay in the role.
He said he plans to be the supervisor until he retires in 16 years, as long as the program remains active.
'This role is a unique one, in that I have the dual rule of doing everything in my power to keep both the town and the State Police happy with our service,' Conklin said.
The town included $1.9 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget it approved in May to cover costs and overtime of the troopers.
Commissioner Bob Yoder described the cost of the agreement with Maryland State Police for the town's law enforcement at that meeting as 'astronomical.' He suggested that the town form a subcommittee to examine possible alternatives.
After Conklin's comments at Wednesday's meeting, Yoder told him that he thinks the resident troopers do an excellent job in the town, and his concern is only financial.
'I want to make that crystal clear. It's about the dollars,' Yoder said.
Part of Yoder's criticism of the police agreement stemmed from the commissioners' decision to take more than $421,000 from the town's savings of more than $5.8 million to cover part of the cost of balancing the budget.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Russ Winch questioned the idea that taking the money from the savings created a problem for the town.
The Government Finance Officers Association recommends maintaining 38% of total reserves for small municipalities such as Walkersville, he said.
With Walkersville's reserves, 38% would be about $2.2 million, and 50% would be $2.9 million, he said.
Even without the $421,000 taken for the budget, Walkersville's savings were 95% of even the most conservative estimate for keeping money on hand, he said.
Workshop on zoning map
The burgess and commissioners will hold a workshop at their June 25 meeting to discuss changes to the town's zoning map.
The town's Planning Commission has been working on a zoning map, after the adoption of the town's comprehensive plan, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan J. Hauver said Wednesday.
The recommended map is consistent with the comprehensive plan, but it will be up to the burgess and commissioners to decide how to move forward, Hauver said.
Possible changes include rezoning several residential properties and a transition from three types of industrial districts to two, she said.
